Clint Lamb
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The New England Patriots showed off their depth at the running back position during their first preseason action of the 2021 season. Rhamondre Stevenson, the team’s fourth-round draft pick out of Oklahoma, showed out in his NFL debut.
He was given 10 carries against the Washington Football Team on Thursday night, which he turned into 127 yards and two scores. His best play came on a 91-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.
Check it out:
RHAMONDRE STEVENSON COAST TO COST
BOOMER SOONER
— PFF College (@PFF_College) August 13, 2021
There were several question marks regarding Stevenson’s long speed coming into the league, but that touchdown suggests that such concerns were unfounded.
It wasn’t even the only impressive run for the 6-foot, 227-pound runner that night. His first carry also showed remarkable vision and elusiveness:
Rhamondre Stevenson with a very nice first run of his preseason NFL career pic.twitter.com/OHPzWulj0a
— Ben Brown (@BenBrownPL) August 13, 2021
The first-year player will still be competing with Damien Harris, Sony Michel, James White, J.J. Taylor and Brandon Bolden for touches in that Patriots backfield, but it was a heck of a start for the former Sooner.
Surprisingly enough, Stevenson never topped 1,000 yards, rushing or total, during his time in Norman. As a junior in 2019, he totaled 602 yards (515 rushing, 87 receiving) and six touchdowns in 13 games.
He did, however, average 146 total yards per game (111 rushing, 35 receiving) in his six games in 2020. He also added seven rushing touchdowns during that span as well. In other words, he likely would’ve topped 1,000 yards had he played in more games.
Stevenson was named the Cotton Bowl MVP after running for 186 yards and a touchdown on only 18 carries against the Florida Gators. He was the perfect Day 3 target, just as a lot of talking heads had predicted.
Follow Clint Lamb on Twitter @ClintRLamb.
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